[ ARENA FOOTBALL ]
Smith learned from
the bench
Two weeks on the bench were just what Aaron Smith needed to turn his season around.
Smith, a converted quarterback, had been part of the Hawaiian Islanders' rotation at receiver/linebacker most of the arenafootball2 season. But the growing pains inherent in learning two new positions and the addition of some new faces at the "wing-jack" spot squeezed him out of the lineup at midseason.
Although being left off the roster stung, his vantage point behind the walls gave him a clearer view of his role within the Islanders' schemes.
Coyotes at Islanders
When: Tomorrow, 6:30 p.m.Where: Blaisdell Arena
TV: None
Radio: Live, 1500-AM
Internet: hawaiianislanders.com
Parking: $5
"I think I learned more in those two weeks than I did the first five weeks of the season," Smith said. "To sit back and watch how the game is supposed to be played and understand what we're trying to do really motivated me and put me in the right frame of mind.
"It's discouraging, but you can't show it. I used it as fuel for the fire. Any time a coach does that they're basically telling you that you're not playing up to the level that you should be playing."
Smith enters tomorrow's arenafootball2 West Division game against the Central Valley Coyotes second on the team in receptions with 22 and has provided big plays on both sides of the ball since returning to action two weeks ago.
Smith turned in one of the Islanders' few defensive stops in a 91-77 loss to San Diego on May 28 when he tipped a pass, spun around and located the ball in time to make a diving interception.
Smith scored his first offensive touchdown of the season on a 17-yard reception in last week's 52-44 loss at Bakersfield. He hadn't reached the end zone since returning an interception for a score in the Islanders' season-opening win against Central Valley.
"Everything started to move a little bit slower for me and I understood my position better and I understood what my job is," Smith said of his return to the field. "Before I think I might have been trying to make too many plays and getting sidetracked on certain things in the game. Now I'm maintaining focus and intensity level."
Smith's 6-foot-4, 230-pound frame makes him a big target on offense and an imposing obstacle for opposing quarterbacks. But it was the passing ability he displayed at Wagner College in New York that first drew the attention of pro scouts.
Smith played tight end his first two seasons before moving under center as a junior. He passed for 2,346 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2000, but a shoulder injury hampered his accuracy as a senior and his numbers dropped to 1,078 yards and 11 touchdowns.
He signed with the New York Dragons of the Arena Football League in February, but was later released and looked west to continue his career.
He arrived in the islands this spring with visions of playing quarterback with the Islanders. But when veteran Darnell Arceneaux reclaimed the starting spot in training camp, Smith asked the coaches for a chance to play receiver.
"It really came down to the best opportunity for me to get on the field," Smith said. "With the number of quarterbacks we had in camp and the number of reps we were getting, it just came down to saying, 'Hey Coach, can I run some routes?' because I knew I was athletic enough to play a couple of other positions."
It took Smith some time to get back into the mode of catching passes instead of throwing them. But his size and athletic gifts make him a valuable asset on both sides of the ball.
"Aaron's really a good talent," Islanders coach Cal Lee said. "For a quarterback to become a receiver and linebacker, there's a lot of adjustments to be made. He's learning his role, he's learning the technique, and because he's an athlete ... he's adapted pretty well to the position."
At 23, Smith is still looking to work his way up the ladder in the sport and hopes the versatility he's cultivating with the Islanders will make him more attractive to coaches and scouts at the higher levels.
"That's why I'm not at all upset about switching positions," he said. "For me it's just an opportunity to keep playing the game and keep the dream alive."
Klaneski out for season: Islanders defensive specialist Eddie Klaneski will miss the remainder of the season after aggravating a knee injury that has kept him out of the last four games.
Klaneski suffered a slight tear in the anterior cruciate ligament of his right knee against Bossier City on April 30. He attempted a comeback, but re-injured the knee in practice on Tuesday and will have surgery in two weeks.
"The way it was going I thought I might have been able to come back in a couple of weeks," Klaneski said. "But after what happened on Tuesday that plan is over."
Klaneski was the Islanders' leading tackler last season. He posted 30 total tackles and two interceptions this season before the injury.